Ukrainian, Russian and rebel leaders deny involvement

Malaysia Airlines has released a statement, saying more details will follow:

Malaysia Airlines confirms it received notification from Ukrainian ATC that it had lost contact with flight MH17 at 14.15 (GMT) at 30km from Tamak waypoint, approximately 50km from the Russia-Ukraine border. Flight MH17 operated on a Boeing 777 departed Amsterdam at 12:14 PM (Amsterdam local time) and was estimated to arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 6:10 AM (Malaysia local time) the next day. The flight was carrying 283 passengers and 15 crew onboard.

Malaysia Airlines passenger flight has crashed over eastern Ukraine with 295 people on board. MH17

An adviser to Ukraine’s interior ministry claims the plane was shot down by a Buk anti-aircraft system.

President Barack Obama, who has just landed in Delaware, has been briefed about the airliner crash. His spokesman, Josh Earnest, told reporters on board Air Force One that the president had instructed his staff to keep him updated and make contact with senior Ukrainian officials.

Russia’s UN envoy has denied any involvement, AFP reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has released a statement via the Kremlin Web site (Russian). It reads:

Vladimir Putin has expressed his deepest condolences to Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia with regard to the accident in Ukrainian territory of a Malaysian Airlines passenger aircraft, resulting in numerous casualties. The Russian head of state asked him to convey his sincerest words of sympathy and support to families and friends of the victims.

Delta, British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Aeroflot and other airlines said they would avoid Ukrainian air space.

The US “cannot confirm any Americans on board”, says State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, who refused to confirm any reports of Americans among the passengers of MH17.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is returning to the Netherlands, and has told Ukraine’s president he is “deeply shocked”.

A vehicle-mounted, Russian-built Buk missile system may have shot down MH17, according to western-based defense specialists quoted by The Guardian.

Senior US officials have told the Wall Street Journal that they have confirmed a surface-to-air missile brought down the plane. US intelligence found a heat signature from “a massive event” and also had “information from intelligence assets” confirming the use of a surface-to-air missile system.

The International AIDS Society has released a statement, confirming that a number of the passengers were on their way to the international AIDS conference in Melbourne.

The International AIDS Society today expresses its sincere sadness at receiving news that a number of colleagues and friends en route to attend the 20th International AIDS Conference taking place in Melbourne, Australia, were on board the Malaysian Airlines MH17 flight that has crashed over Ukraine earlier today. At this incredibly sad and sensitive time the IAS stands with our international family and sends condolences to the loved ones of those who have been lost to this tragedy.